Bouvardia named Ilonka

ABSTRACT

A new Bouvardia variety characterized by the salmon pink, single flowers. The blooms are a unique color, have a better stem quality, and a longer vase life.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new Bouvardia originated as a seedling selected from offspring of the breeding stock plant Jorosa. The particular seedling was selected by me in 1985 for propagation and testing because of the distinctive flower form and coloration of its blossoms. Specifically, the flower is a four lobed tubular corolla. It is salmon pink in color. The selected plant was propagated by me in Roelofarendsveen, Holland through several generations of cutting propagation to establish that its distinctive characteristics hold true from generation to generation and appear to be firmly fixed.

Breeding efforts commenced 1984 in Roelofarendsveen, Holland where the breeding stock is maintained. My new variety, Ilonka, differs from the mother plant, Jorosa, in that it has a unique salmon pink flower color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new variety of the Bouvardia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows a blooming cyme of the plant with buds and flowers in various stages of opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new Bouvardia plant with color designations according to The National Bureau of Standards, Standard Reference Material, #2107, comprising the ISCC-NBS Centroid Color Charts and NBS Special Publication, #440.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage: Seed parent.

Classification: Rubiaceae family.

Form: A vigorously growing small shrub with leaves arranged opposite and flowers in terminal cymes.

Height: Up to 80.0 cm.

Growth: Vigorous.

Root stock: Rhizome.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Many.

Number of leaves.--10-15 per stem.

Size of leaf.--About 8.0 cm.

Shape of leaf.--Lanceolate.

Texture.--Smooth.

Color.--Upper side: Green. Under side: Green.

THE BUD

Form: Flask-shaped.

Size: Small.

Diameter.--About 1.0 cm.

Length.--About 3.0 cm.

Peduncle:

Length.--About 8.0 cm.

Texture.--Smooth.

Form.--Erect.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Continuously year-round.

Flower size:

Diameter.--About 2.0 cm.

Depth.--About 3.0 cm.

Borne: Terminal cymes.

Shape: Lobed tubular corolla.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--Four.

Arrangement.--Concentric circle.

Form.--Elliptical.

Texture.--Smooth.

Appearance.--Satiny.

Color: Soft yellowish pink (No. 26).

Persistence: The flowers hang on and dry.

Main stem or stalk:

Length.--Up to 80.0 cm.

Color.--Green.

Character.--Sturdy and erect.

Lasting quality of flower: About 25 days. As a cut flower 14 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--Four.

Arrangement.--Alternate with corolla lobes.

Anthers:

Size.--About 0.25 cm.

Color.--White (No. 263).

Filaments:

Length.--About 1.0 cm.

Color.--White (No. 263).

Pollen.--Black (No. 267).

Pistils:

Number.--One.

Styles.--Length: About 1.0 cm. Color: White (No. 263).

Fruit:

Shape.--Loculicidal capsule, seeds winged.

Color.--Brown.

This plant is particularly noted for the distinctive coloration of its flowers, which coloration does not clearly resemble that of any other Bouvardia plant previously known to me. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinctive Bouvardia cultivar, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized by the distinctive coloration of its profusely blooming flowers. 